As Lutheran Christians, we believe that God calls people to fill all sorts of vocations (“callings”), from mother to student to whatever our roles and relationships may be in this world. “Called Staff” are those who have received special training for roles in the church’s ministry and who have a special focus on sharing God’s Word through His ministry here.
Rev. Bryan Drebes
Pastor
Office Phone: 402-391-9625
Email:
Pastor Drebes was born in Hannibal, Missouri, baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Palmyra, Missouri. He enrolled at Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska in 1991, and later withdrew to take a full time career in financial services. He re-enrolled at Concordia-Seward in 1994 and graduated in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Pastor Drebes attended Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri. He spent the summer of 1999 teaching English to Chinese middle school teachers in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. After a four-month vicarage at St. John Lutheran Church, Plymouth, Wisconsin, he served as vicar at Bethany Lutheran Church, Overland Park, Kansas. Pastor Drebes was ordained at his home church in Palmyra on August 19, 2001, and installed as Associate Pastor of Bethany on September 9. He served Bethany for 14 years before accepting a call to be Senior Pastor at Pacific Hills in 2015.
He and his wife, Cheryl, were married in Overland Park, and live in Ralston, Nebraska. Pastor’s hobbies include traveling, bowling, baseball and bicycle riding. He and Cheryl do not have pets; Pastor is horribly allergic to cats.
Jim Mueller
Lay Minister
Jim was commissioned as a Lay Minister at Pacific Hills on Sunday, May 22, 2022. He has been a member of Pacific Hills for many years, serving as an elder, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and a friend in Christ. In 2022, Jim oversaw the renovations to our facility. As Lay Minister he will be assisting Pastor Drebes with various duties, including sermons.
Zach Hastings
Director of Music
Email:
Zach is a native of Ankeny, Iowa, and served Lutheran congregations as organist, bell choir director and director of worship for seven years in Iowa and Minnesota. He joins Pacific Hills as Director of Music beginning July 1, 2020.
Zach studied organ performance at Iowa State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music in 2016. He has been an organist, bell choir director, and director of worship primarily in the central Iowa area. He continually seeks opportunities to grow as a musician through various conferences and seminars. Zach currently serves on the Central Iowa American Guild of Organists (AGO) Executive Committee, and on the American Guild of Organists Young Organists (AGOYO) National Board.
He is a retirement benefit analyst for Principal Financial Group. He lives in Iowa with his Goldendoodle, Merlin.
Office Staff
Kim Kielty, Administrative Assistant, Email:
Jennifer Meyer, Office Assistant, email:
Matt Storck, Custodian
Boards and Committees
Board of Directors, Carla Heathershaw Risko, President
Board of Directors, Jon Wilshusen, Vice President
Board of Directors, Susan Hunter, Secretary
Board of Directors, Lynn Wegehaupt, Treasurer
Board of Stewardship & Finance, Sharon Vacanti, Chair
Board of Elders, Bob Glissmann, Chair
Worship & Music Committee, Dan Irvin, Chair
Children, Youth and Families (CYF) Board, Pam Hafsaas, Chair
Library Committee, Kathy Stokes, Chair
Missions & Social Ministry Board, Marilyn Wegehaupt, Chair
Care Ministry Committee, Marilyn Wegehaupt, Chair
Outreach Board, Ann Wilshusen, Chair
Trustees Board, Jim Mueller, Chair
Director at Large, Matt Troutman
Director at Large, Regina Mahron
Director at Large, Christapher White
PHLC Foundation, Stacy Swan, President
Website
George McCoy, Webmaster, Email:
